MARDAN, April 21: Six officials of the Saddar police station, including the station house officer, have been suspended for their alleged involvement in the death in custody of a resident of Khazana Dheri on March 1 , officials said on Wednesday.

Riaz Khan of Khazana Dheri was arrested by the Fazal Hague police poststaff on Feb 29 on the charges of possessing a small quantity of charas. He was found dead in the lock-up the following day. It was alleged that he died of torture during interrogation and the body was left in the cell.

When the relatives of Riaz Khan came to know about his death, they reached the police station and demanded the registration of an FIR against the police officials responsible. The police refused to do so.

The victim's relatives and local people took out a procession and blocked the Mardan-Charsadda road for four hours to press their demand for an investigation into the death.

The matter was brought into the notice of NWFP Chief Minister Akram Khan Durrani, who ordered the registration of an FIR against the officials involved. The police authorities registered an FIR against six officials and instituted an inquiry against them.

The inquiry was conducted by Zarqand Khan, a member of the PublicSafety Commission, who submitted the report in 48 days. According to the report, the six officials were found involved in the killing.

SHO Shida Khan, Assistant Sub-Inspector Mohammad Ilyas, Head Constable Mohammed Iqbal and constables Sabz Ali, Mohammad Ali, Fazal Rabbi and Badam Khan were suspended in view of the inquiry.